The area is currently under the jurisdiction of New York American Water, a private water utility, but rising rate hikes, poor water quality and scathing investigations have pushed ratepayers to the boiling point. Over the past year customers have written to elected officials, rallied and organized civic groups all calling for a state condemnation of the company.

“The American Water Must Go group has worked very hard in the quest to obtain public water, and to expose New York American Water for their improper and unlawful practices,” said Village Administrator Bruce Kennedy, who will serve as the Sea Cliff advisory committee’s co-chair. “It’s constantly reported in the papers that our allegations have been accurate from the beginning, and now that we have [money to conduct] the feasibility study we can move forward.”

“I’m very passionate about this whole fight,” Nadel said. “Having this task force work with the Board of Trustees and the Village of Sea Cliff will strengthen our commitment to bring public water to our community.”

Kennedy explained that the committee would provide “expertise and knowledge” to the board by identifying an entity to carry out the feasibility study. Before an RFP is solicited, however, the group is planning to meet with nearby public water districts — specifically Jericho and Roslyn — to ensure those entities also have input.

“That way when we do put out an RFP, it would include all the information that would be required by the public utility,” he said.

The question of a feasibility study was first raised in February when local civics and elected officials attended a board meeting of the Jericho Water District. The commissioners said the district would need a feasibility study to determine if they had the proper means to accommodate Sea Cliff’s customers but could not expend its own funds to do so.

Nadel said the ultimate goal of the committee is to ensure the study is done correctly and thoroughly. “We all believe that it is feasible,” she said, “but obviously the study has to be done right.”

Much like most Sea Cliff ratepayers, Esernio is looking forward to potentially bringing public water to the North Shore. “We’ve been at this for over three years, he said, “and we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”